Poteet: Temps continue to drop; snow returns to forecast

Chills will stay sub-zero until about lunchtime today. The chills will approach -20 in Lafayette, Kokomo, Muncie and Richmond. An advisory is in effect until 9 a.m., except for Richmond where it extends to 10 a.m.

One cold front went through Tuesday, and another will pass overnight tonight. It will be even colder Thursday, with the lowest of the lows coming Thursday night into Friday morning. Temperatures will be dropping below zero by Friday morning.

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Attention then shifts from the thermometer to the first of two weekend waves. The first arrives Friday night into very early Saturday morning. It should bring an inch or less of snow. The second wave arrives Saturday night with more snow. Snow won't be heavy Saturday night.

The heavier moisture arrives Sunday, along with enough warmer air above us to forecast sleet and freezing rain. Colder air will return at all levels Sunday, turning all precipitation to snow on Monday, mainly in the morning. Small additional snow accumulations are possible then. At this time, the main threat is from the icy mix on Sunday.

Seven-day forecast(Photo: Paul Poteet)

Wednesday morning computer simulations are pointing to about 7/10 of an inch of precipitation available, which would be considerable in any form. If it were to fall as all snow - which is not likely - the total could easily exceed 8 inches. Sleet and freezing rain will cut into those totals considerably. In any event, it looks like a mess, and it appears we'll watch one more episode in the never ending show that is this winter.

The "snow year" total is now 52.3 inches in Indianapolis, after .2 was recorded Tuesday. The all-time snow year record is from the winter of 1981-82, when the total was 58.2 inches. So at this moment, exactly 6 inches - degrees? - of separation.

Indy's biggest snow seasons(Photo: Paul Poteet)

Paul Poteet has reported weather in Central Indiana since the 1980s. Follow him on Twitter@PaulPoteet